Blackfish was a 2013 documentary whose impact reached beyond theater screens to transform a real chunk of society. Audiences were so shocked and disgusted by video of how SeaWorld captured their orcas and the miserable lives these ocean mammals led in confined tanks, that SeaWorld attendance plummeted. As attendance and profits steadily declined quarter by quarter, SeaWorld promised to end its breeding program and to phase out all live performances using orcas. Film was the catalyst for that. Could an animated film accomplish the same thing?

Bullfighting is non-existent in the USA, but remains popular entertainment or a cherished cultural art form in the Iberian Peninsula. However, what will happen when a generation of children fall in love with Ferdinand and friends and believe those are the bulls paraded to slaughter in the ring. Blackfish set the recent precedent, but even though there are a few save the environment films every year, people still add tons of plastic to the oceans and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Bullfighting will most likely easily weather Ferdinand, but beware, if the cartoon takes off in Spain, a change could be afoot.

Kids are going to smile at Ferdinand the bull because he is not ashamed to be who he is. Born into a ranch whose purpose is to produce the largest, most muscular fighting specimens imaginable, Ferdinand separates himself from his peers because he has no appetite for the competition and machismo. The message is it’s better to yourself no matter what. Kids may try and blend into cliques at school and strive to be part of the in-crowd, but many of their most beloved and iconic childhood movies praise individuality and uniqueness over conformity.

Ferdinand (John Cena, Sisters) is misunderstood. Built to fight, our enormous, hulking hero wants to smell the flowers and sit under his shade tree. Cena is a shrewd cast by director Carlos Saldanha. He’s as big as a full-grown bull in real life but comes off as a bit of a softy on the inside. Escaping the ranch early on, Ferdinand settles down with a dad and daughter who understand that what’s on Ferdinand’s inside does not match his gargantuan exterior. Through a series of unfortunate events and impressive dexterity skills inside a china shop suffering from surplus inventory, Ferdinand winds up back at the ranch with all of his old tormentors.

Ferdinand’s supporting cast are all one-dimensional and have their identifiable trademarks to tell them apart. Valiente (Bobby Canavale, Ant-Man) is the main antagonist who believes Ferdinand’s lack of fighting spirit is merely a cover for weakness and cowardliness. Peyton Manning, yes, that Peyton Manning, is the stage fright suffering Guapo, and there are couple of other bulls to round out the ranch including an amusing genetically-modified bull who is more steroids than DNA. There are three thieving hedgehogs who are supposed to be the main comic relief as they can help in escapes and one-liners but the winners for funniest and best parts of Ferdinand goes to the champion stallions. ​

The three horses with exceptionally harsh German accents are hysterical. They reminded me of the German techno bad guys, Das Sound Machine, from Pitch Perfect 2 and wouldn’t you know, Flula Borg was the main baddie in Das Sound Machine and voices Hans, the lead horse. Their self-assured superiority over the bulls, their balletic dance moves, and their witty insults all leave the hedgehogs in the dust. How’s this for a zinger, “I bet his parents weren’t even related” as they trot away from mocking Ferdinand’s lineage. Kate McKinnon (Leap!) as Lupe the goat is the funniest-looking animal with jagged teeth and a penchant for burping up required items like a whistle or bagpipes.

When Ferdinand stumbles upon the realization that the bull never wins, his mission changes from self-preservation to saving the rest of his bull mates. Convincing bulls who are sure they will live long, happy lives in the fields if they best the matador to run away is no easy feat. I assume many of these anti-bullfighting and animal cruelty messages will sail over the heads of the children in the audience, but they will remember their cuddly friends the next time they come across pictures or video of a bull with a bunch of spears sticking out of his skin. Saldanha, an animated film veteran from the Ice Age and Rio franchises, transforms the beloved 1936 kid’s book for a new generation; kids who are familiar with not judging personalities from appearances and raised not to think trophy-hunting and bullfighting are hobbies to pursue. I'm all for charting the course of this cartoon with a social message.